JAG Corps announces law school programs

  • Published
  • By the 4th Fighter Wing Legal Office
SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  The U.S. Air Force Judge Advocate General Corps is accepting applications for the Funded Legal Education Program and Excess Leave Program from Jan. 1 to March 1, 2011.

"Our Air Force missions are constantly changing, and commanders deserve to have access to legal advisors with a broad background of military experiences," said Lt. Col. Michael Vecera, 4th Fighter Wing staff judge advocate. "The FLEP and ELP will ensure that we can continue to maintain a corps of officers whose military experience complements their legal training providing commanders with the highest caliber of legal support."

Air Force JAGs do more than just provide legal assistance, according to Colonel Vecera. In addition to prosecuting and defending clients brought before courts martial, JAG officers routinely participate in nearly every facet of the Air Force mission including developing and acquiring weapon systems, ensuring availability of airspace and ranges where those systems are tested and operated, consulting with commanders about how those systems are employed in armed conflict, and assisting commanders in the day-to-day running of military installations around the world.

"Every facet of every Air Force mission is bound by elements of the law," Colonel Vecera said.

The FLEP is a paid legal studies program for active duty Air Force commissioned officers. The FLEP is an assignment action. Participants receive full pay, allowances and tuition. Applicants must have between two and six years active duty service, enlisted or commissioned, and must be in the pay grade O-3 or below as of the first day of law school. The FLEP is subject to tuition limitations as the Air Force Institute of Technology sees fit. Positions may be limited due to overall funding availability.

The ELP is an unpaid legal studies program for Air Force officers only. Participants do not receive pay and allowances but remain on active duty for retirement-eligibility and benefits purposes. Applicants must have between two and 10 years active duty service and must be in the pay grade O-3 or below as of the first day of law school.

Both programs require attendance at an American Bar Association-accredited law school. Upon graduation and admission to practice law in the highest court of any state, territory of the United States or federal court, candidates are eligible for designation as judge advocates. Candidates are also required to register and take the Law School Admissions Test which is scheduled for June 7, Oct. 9 and Dec. 11. Applicants must receive LSAT results, complete all application forms, apply to at least one ABA-accredited law school and complete an SJA interview by Feb. 15, 2011. Officers must provide a letter of conditional release from their current career field.

Applications go up to a board in early March 2011 and selections are made based on a review of the application package using a "whole-person concept." Air Force Instruction 51-101, Judge Advocate Accession Program, Chapters 2 and 3, discuss the FLEP and ELP.

For more information and application materials, visit http://www.airforce.com/jag, contact the base legal office, or contact Capt. Laura DeSio, U.S. Air Force JAG headquarters at laura.desio@pentagon.af.mil or 1-800-JAG-USAF.